exploit

¹

[ ek-sploit, ik-sploit ]

noun

1. a striking or notable deed; feat; spirited or heroic act:

   the exploits of Alexander the Great.

   Synonyms: accomplishment

exploit

²

[ verb ik-sploit; noun eks-ploit, ik-sploit ]

verb (used with object)

1. to utilize, especially for profit; turn to practical account:

   to exploit a business opportunity.

2. to use selfishly for one's own ends:

   employers who exploit their workers.

3. to advance or further through exploitation; promote:

   He exploited his new movie through a series of guest appearances.

noun

Digital Technology.

1. 1. a flaw in hardware or software that is vulnerable to hacking or other cyberattacks.
   2. a piece of software that takes advantage of such a flaw to compromise a computer system or network.
2. (in a video game) the use of a bug or flaw in game design to a player’s advantage or to the disadvantage of other players.

exploit

noun

1. a notable deed or feat, esp one that is noble or heroic

verb

1. to take advantage of (a person, situation, etc), esp unethically or unjustly for one's own ends
2. to make the best use of

   to exploit natural resources

Derived Forms

• exˈploitive, adjective
• exˈploitable, adjective
• ˌexploiˈtation, noun

Other Word Forms

• ex·ploit·a·ble adjective
• ex·ploit·a·bil·i·ty [ik-sploi-t, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], noun
• ex·ploit·a·tive ex·ploit·a·to·ry [ik-, sploi, -t, uh, -tawr-ee], ex·ploit·ive adjective
• ex·ploit·er noun
• non·ex·ploit·a·ble adjective
• non·ex·ploit·a·tive adjective
• non·ex·ploi·tive adjective
• un·ex·ploit·a·ble adjective
• un·ex·ploit·a·tive adjective
• un·ex·ploit·ive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of exploit¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English exploit, espleit, from Old French exploit, Anglo-French espleit, from Latin explicitum, neuter of explicitus “unfolded, set forth,” variant past participle of explicāre “to unfold, unroll, smooth, reveal”; explicate

Origin of exploit²

First recorded in 1300–50; from French exploiter, derivative of exploit (noun); replacing late Middle English expleiten “to achieve,” from Anglo-French, Middle French espleiter, espleitier, derivative of espleit, esploit, expleit, exploit (noun), from Latin explicitum “matter settled, displayed,” noun use of explicitus “unfolded, revealed,” variant past participle of explicāre; exploit ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of exploit¹

C14: from Old French: accomplishment, from Latin explicitum (something) unfolded, from explicāre to explicate

Synonym Study

See achievement.

Example Sentences

“There’s some strengths of the government’s case, and there’s also one big weakness that we can expect Meta to really exploit.”

From Los Angeles Times

“DHS is leading efforts to conduct welfare checks on these children to ensure that they are safe and not being exploited, abused, and sex trafficked,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

America’s working poor, she found, are victims of a system that’s designed to exploit them and also keep them from putting up a protest.

From Los Angeles Times

Kennedy exploits the language of the "wellness" industry, with its misleading emphasis on "natural" health care and "letting" your body heal itself.

From Salon

And he said he was concerned that malicious actors could exploit the images saved by Recall if they gained login access to a device.

From BBC

Related Words

• abuse
• apply
• capitalize on
• employ
• handle
• manipulate
• mine
• profit from
• use
• utilize